History of Guadeloupe - Changes in Europe

Changes in Europe

From 1759 through 1763, as a part of the Seven Years' War, the British took control of the island and the main city Pointe-à-Pitre was established during these years. Proof of the island's importance came in 1763 when in the Treaty of Paris the French traded their territory in Canada to Britain in return for control of Guadeloupe. Many in Britain had wanted to annexe the island, as a reward for Britain's success in the war.

The French Revolution also caused political turmoil, and control of Guadeloupe changed hands a couple of times including 1789 and 1792. Slavery was abolished by the governor Victor Hugues during this tumultuous time. Guadeloupe experienced the effects of the Reign of Terror from 1794 to 1798.

Meanwhile Louis Delgrès, a mulatto officer, led an uprising in 1802. He and 800 rebels chose to die rather than submit to the French army. Napoleon reinstated slavery when the French retook the island.

The British again held the island for three years beginning in 1810. It was ceded to Sweden in 1813 after the Napoleonic Wars. However, the Treaty of Paris in 1814 left the island to France again, though the British and Swedish did not fully acknowledge the secession. French control of the island was recognized in the Treaty of Vienna in 1815.